Thoughts on MLK's birthday?

[senseandsensibility]

I celebrated this national holiday with my class of minority students in a poor school district on Friday. This holiday means something to them, and they are hungry for knowledge about the history of this great man, and of racism and the Civil Rights Movement. I have enjoyed sharing it with them. Of course, at eight years old, they have no memory of the brutality of the early civil rights movement, or of the culture that MLK faced as he grew up. I do what I can to make sure that it is remembered.

A dear friend of mine, a fellow teacher, and a talented musician, arranged an assembly for our school to mark the occasion. She taught her class a dance to "Pick a Bale of Cotton". I'm embarrassed to say that during the lyrics of the song, I teared up. To think that slaves used to sing these songs about trying to pick a bale of cotton for the master.....well, words fail me.

Please stop and think about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his sacrifices tomorrow. Please let his suffering and the suffering of all disenfranchised people be your inspiration for our current struggle. And remember, the Civil Rights movement was successful because diverse groups came together with one voice. WE SHALL OVERCOME.:grouphug:

[Clark2008]

1. My kindergartner was learning about MLK in school

So, he asked me why he died.

I told him some racist killed him.

He asked what a racist was.

I told him.

He asked why people would hate someone based on the color of their skin.

"That's just the stupidest thing I've ever heard," he opined.

From the mouths of babes.

[rsmith6621]

2. Bush Will Compare Himself in Likeness Tomorrow...

To a small degree...........

Watch......

[senseandsensibility]

3. Gag!

He wouldn't dare do that, would he?

[hector459]

4. It is very inspiring to remember MLK . Two major writings stick out in my

mind when I think about African-American citizens and the generations hate and violence that they have endured...and even that spawned among themselves. The first is the "Negro National Anthem" by James Weldon Johnson. I never knew anything about this until our school held a Black History program and the visiting chorus sang it:

'THE NEGRO NATIONAL ANTHEM'

Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears have been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, Our God, where we met Thee;
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand.
True to our GOD,
True to our native land

James Weldon Johnson

The second is the speech by MLK on the Viet Nam war."
You can read it at this site or listen to it:

www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm

If the link does not work goole for "mlk speeches."
MLK was truly a great American hero.

[senseandsensibility]

5. Thanks for sharing that!

:-)

[H2O Man]

6. I think that

it is important to remember that Martin urged people to take action. I would hope that people would be moved to do something in honor of King, such as writing a letter to the editor of their local newspaper, opposing the immoral war in Iraq.

[senseandsensibility]

7. Good advice

as usual, H20Man!!:)

[Proud liberal Kat]

8. I have been thinking

of how sad it is that such a great man was taken from the World. We could really use a man of his conviction and eloquence to speak today on what real moral values are and what following those moral values would call us to do today in the "War on Terrorism" and what following those moral values would call us to do today in the face of poverty throughout the World and in our own country. What following those moral values today would call us to do in the face of those who have no health insurance.

I don't identify myself as a Christian, but in it's true form I have a lot of respect for the religion and I think it could help lead the way to many changes in how things are going if there were men or women with the vision, charisma, conviction and eloquence of Reverend King speaking up for what real moral values are in this day and age.
Kathy

[senseandsensibility]

9. The lack of courage from our side

is disheartening sometimes. It would actually be easy for the Dems to stand up en masse against the racism and classism of this administration, but they refuse to do so. Compare that to what Dr. King had to go through.:shrug:

[ChristianButLiberal]

10. His work did not only benefit the african american community

But our whole nation. As a Mexican, I am thankful and proud that MLK fought for my rights and this day is well deserved.

His sermons were also masterpieces. Whether a bible believer or athiest they still had a profound impact on ones thought process.

The man could speak. Boy could he speak.

[ChristianButLiberal]

11. imagine

One more thing...imagine him speaking out against the war in Iraq if he were still here...the Bushites would smear his name and assassinate his character faster than you can say quagmire.

[Dangerman]

12. MLK is a true man of peace

If he were alive today, he would blatantly opposed Bush' immorally wrong invasion and occupation of Iraq.

[Siyahamba]

13. It's unfortunate his youngest daughter is promoting segregation

But it is great to see that his widow is still fighting for civil rights.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/10654874.htm